Rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car

ABSTRACT

A rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car, including a front bracket, a rear bracket, two insertion pins and four movable seats respectively fitted in the receptacles of the front and rear brackets. The movable seats can be freely revolved within the receptacles to automatically adjust the angle contained between the insertion pins and the front and rear brackets.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a rocking arm insertion pin fixingmechanism of toy car, which makes a remote controllable toy car moreadaptable to various configurations of the ground and enhances thestability of the toy car in running.

FIGS. 8 to 11 show a conventional rocking arm insertion pin fixingmechanism of a toy car. The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism 7is composed of two insertion pins 71, a front bracket 72 and a rearbracket 73. Each end of the front and rear brackets 72, 73 is formedwith a locating hole 74 in which the insertion pin 71 is pivotallydisposed. The front and rear brackets 72, 73 are locked on the chassisof the toy car by bolts. A rocking arm (not shown) is pivotally disposedon each insertion pin 71 for keeping the toy car balanced.

In the conventional rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism 7, thefront and rear brackets 72, 73 often have different widths or evendifferent heights for adapting the toy car to different road conditions.Therefore, the two locating holes 74 in which the same insertion pin 71is inserted between the front and rear brackets 72, 73 are not coaxial.The locating holes 74 are directly fixedly formed on the front and rearbrackets 72, 73. Therefore, once the insertion pin 71 is mounted intothe locating holes 74, the insertion pin 71 is in a biased state.Accordingly, the axis of the insertion pin 71 and the axis of thelocating hole 74 contain a certain angle. Therefore, after mounted, theinsertion pin 71 will contact with the wall of the locating hole 74simply at two points 75 as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11. After a period ofuse, due to abrasion, the locating hole 74 will be bored. As a result,the insertion pin 71 will loosen to affect the controllability andstability of the toy car during running.

Furthermore, after bored, generally a player will apply a fixing boltand an adhesive to the end faces of the front and rear brackets 72, 73for fixing the insertion pin 71. However, this will seriously affect thestrength of the front and rear brackets 72, 73 and shorten using life ofthe toy car.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide arocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car, in which fourmovable seats are respectively pivotally fitted in the receptacles ofthe front and rear brackets. The insertion pins are fitted in thelocating holes of the movable seats. The movable seats can be freelyrevolved within the receptacles to automatically adjust the anglecontained between the insertion pins and the front and rear brackets.Therefore, the insertion pins are tightly fitted in the locating holesof the movable seats without any gap between the insertion pins and themovable seats. Accordingly, the boring of the locating holes andloosening of the insertion pins can be avoided.

According to the above object, the rocking arm insertion pin fixingmechanism of toy car of the present invention includes:

-   -   a front bracket which is an elongated bar body, two ends of one        face of the front bracket being respectively formed with two        receptacles, each receptacle having a substantially        semispherical bottom;    -   a rear bracket which is an elongated bar body, two ends of one        face of the rear bracket being respectively formed with two        receptacles, each receptacle having a substantially        semispherical bottom;    -   four substantially spherical movable seats respectively fitted        in the receptacles, each movable seat being formed with a        locating hole on one side, the locating holes of the movable        seats on the same side of the front and rear brackets being        opposite to each other; and    -   two insertion pins, two ends of each insertion pin being        respectively inserted in the locating holes of the movable        seats.

The present invention can be best understood through the followingdescription and accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the frontbracket, movable seat and insertion pin of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the relationship between the rearbracket, movable seat and insertion pin of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional assembled view of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the rear bracket ofthe present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing that the present invention ismounted on the chassis of a toy car;

FIG. 8 is a sectional assembled view of a conventional rocking arminsertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the conventionalrocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car, showing that theinsertion pin contacts with the wall of the locating hole at two points;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of a part of the conventionalrocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 7. The rocking arm insertion pin fixingmechanism 1 of toy car of the present invention includes a front bracket2 which is a substantially elongated bar body. Two ends of inner face 27of the front bracket 2 are respectively formed with a first receptacle21 and a second receptacle 22. Each of the first and second receptacles21, 22 has a substantially semispherical bottom 29. Two ends of theouter face 28 of the front bracket 2 are respectively formed with twoswelling sections 23. Accordingly, while the receptacle 21 has a certaindepth, the bottom of the receptacle 21 has a certain thickness.Referring to FIG. 2, the inner wall face of each of the receptacles 21,22 is formed with a stop section 24. In this embodiment, the stopsection 24 is adjacent to the semispherical bottom 29 and the diameterh₁ of the stop section 24 is slightly smaller that the maximum diameterH₁ of the bottom 29. The swelling section 23 is formed with a workinghole 25 communicating with the bottom 29 of each receptacle 21, 22. Inaddition, the front bracket 2 is formed with two locking holes 26vertically passing through the front bracket 2 between the first andsecond receptacles 21, 22. Bolts (not shown) are fitted through thelocking holes 26 to lock the front bracket 2 on the chassis of the toycar (as shown in FIG. 7). This is identical to the fixing measure of thefront bracket of the conventional mechanism and will not be furtherdescribed hereinafter.

The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism 1 of toy car of thepresent invention further includes a rear bracket 4 which is asubstantially elongated bar body. Two ends of inner face 47 of the rearbracket 4 are respectively formed with a third receptacle 41 and afourth receptacle 42. Each of the third and fourth receptacles 41, 42has a substantially semispherical bottom 49. Two ends of the outer face48 of the rear bracket 4 are respectively formed with two swellingsections 43. Accordingly, while the rear receptacle 41 has a certaindepth, the bottom 49 of the receptacle 41 has a certain thickness.Referring to FIG. 3, the inner wall face of each of the receptacles 41,42 is formed with a stop section 44. In this embodiment, the stopsection 44 is adjacent to the semispherical bottom 49 and the diameterh₂ of the stop section 44 is slightly smaller that the maximum diameterH₂ of the bottom 49. The swelling section 43 is formed with a workinghole 45 communicating with the bottom 49 of each receptacle 41, 42. Inaddition, the rear bracket 4 is formed with two locking holes 46vertically passing through the rear bracket 4 between the third andfourth receptacles 41, 42. Bolts (not shown) are fitted through thelocking holes 46 to lock the rear bracket 4 on the chassis of the toycar (as shown in FIG. 7). This is identical to the fixing measure of therear bracket of the conventional mechanism and will not be furtherdescribed hereinafter.

The front and rear brackets 2, 4 have similar structures. The onlydifference between the front and rear brackets 2, 4 is that the distancebetween the receptacles 21, 22 of the front bracket 2 is different fromthe distance between the receptacles 41, 42 of the rear bracket 4. Inaddition, the front and rear brackets 2, 4 have different shapes. Theheight of the receptacles 21, 22 of the front bracket 2 is differentfrom the height of the receptacles 41, 42 of the rear bracket 4.

In this embodiment, the front and rear brackets 2, 4 are made of plasticmaterial. Therefore, when suffering intrusion force, the stop sections24, 44 can be slightly deformed. In the case that the front and rearbrackets 2, 4 are made of metal material such as aluminum, the front andrear brackets 2, 4 are free from the stop sections 24, 44.

The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism 1 of toy car of thepresent invention further includes four movable seats 3 respectivelyfitted in the receptacles 21, 22, 41, 42 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Inthis embodiment, each movable seat 3 includes a ball section 31 and asmall diameter section 32. Each movable seat 3 is formed with a locatinghole 33 at one end. The other end of the movable seat 3 is formed withan exhaust opening 34 communicating with the locating hole 33 andworking hole 25 of the front bracket 2 and the working hole 45 of therear bracket 4. The working holes 25, 45 are for replacing the movableseat 3. Moreover, the diameter of the small diameter section 32 of themovable seat 3 is smaller than the diameter of the stop sections 24, 44of the receptacles 21, 22, 41, 42 so that a gap exists between the smalldiameter section 32 and the stop sections 24, 44. Accordingly, the ballsection 31 of the movable seat 3 can be revolved within the bottom ofthe receptacle by a certain angle.

The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism 1 of toy car of thepresent invention further includes two insertion pins 5. A rocking armis pivotally disposed on each insertion pin 5 as shown in FIG. 7. Inthis embodiment, the insertion pin 5 linearly extends and is inserted inthe locating hole 33. After inserted, the angle contained between theinsertion pin 5 and the front or rear bracket 2, 4 can be freelyadjusted.

When assembled, as shown in FIG. 4, the movable seats 3 are firstmounted into the receptacles 21, 22, 41, 42. In this embodiment, thefront and rear brackets 2, 4 are made of plastic material so that theball sections 31 of the movable seats 3 can be forcedly intruded intothe receptacles to engage with the stop sections 24, 44 as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6. Accordingly, it is hard for the movable seats 3 to dropout of the receptacles. Then a rocking arm (not shown) is pivotallydisposed on the insertion pin 5. The front and rear brackets 2, 4 oftenhave different widths or even different heights. Therefore, the twolocating holes 33 in which two ends of the same insertion pin 5 areinserted between the front and rear brackets 2, 4 are not coaxial.Accordingly, after the insertion pin 5 is fitted into the locating holes33, the movable seats 3 can be revolved within the receptacles toautomatically adjust the angle contained between the insertion pin 5 andthe front and rear brackets 2, 4. Therefore, the insertion pin 5 istightly fitted in the locating holes 33 to form the rocking arminsertion pin fixing mechanism 1.

In use of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 7, when a remotecontrollable toy car runs in a field, the insertion pin 5 suffers ashocking force from the rocking arm 6 so that the insertion pin 5 andthe locating hole 33 are shocked. However, the movable seats 3 can berevolved within the receptacles by a certain angle adapted to theinsertion pin 5. Therefore, the insertion pin 5 is tightly fitted in thelocating holes 33 instead of two-point contact. Accordingly, the boringof the locating holes 33 and loosening of the insertion pin 5 can beavoided.

Furthermore, when the toy car abruptly turns at high speed, the angle ofthe rocking arm 6 will change to result in change of the angle of theinsertion pin 5. However, the movable seats 3 can be revolved within thereceptacles to automatically adjust the angle contained between theinsertion pin 5 and the front and rear brackets 2, 4. Therefore, thestability of the toy car in running can be enhanced. With this function,the remote controllable toy car is more adaptable to variousconfigurations of the ground.

The above embodiment is only used to illustrate the present invention,not intended to limit the scope thereof. Many modifications of the aboveembodiment can be made without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention. For example, the movable seats 3 can be mounted in thereceptacles formed on other faces of the front and rear brackets 2, 4instead of the opposite faces thereof. It is only required that themovable seats 3 are rotatably located in the receptacles and stoppedfrom dropping out by C-shaped retainer, E-shaped retainer, R-shapedretainer, etc. In addition, the opposite faces of the brackets 2, 4 mustbe formed with passages for the insertion pins 5 to pass therethrough.

1. A rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car, comprising:a front bracket, two ends of one face of the front bracket beingrespectively formed with two receptacles, each receptacle having asubstantially semispherical bottom; a rear bracket, two ends of one faceof the rear bracket being respectively formed with two receptacles, eachreceptacle having a substantially semispherical bottom; foursubstantially spherical movable seats respectively fitted in thereceptacles, each movable seat being formed with a locating hole on oneside, the locating holes of the movable seats on the same side of thefront and rear brackets being opposite to each other; and two insertionpins, each insertion pin linearly extending, two ends of each insertionpin being respectively inserted in the locating holes of the movableseats.
 2. The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car asclaimed in claim 1, wherein a stop section is formed on inner wall faceof each receptacle for engaging with the movable seat.
 3. The rockingarm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car as claimed in claim 1,wherein each of the front and rear brackets is formed with a workinghole communicating with the bottom of the receptacle for replacing themovable seat.
 4. The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toycar as claimed in claim 1, wherein each movable seat has a smalldiameter section, the diameter of the small diameter section of themovable seat being smaller than the diameter of the stop sections of thereceptacles so that a gap exists between the small diameter section andthe stop sections, an end face of the small diameter section protrudingfrom inner face of each of the front and rear brackets, whereby themovable seat can be revolved within the receptacle to adjust the angle.5. The rocking arm insertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car as claimedin claim 1, wherein the movable seat is formed with an exhaust openingcommunicating with the locating hole and the working hole of the frontbracket and the working hole of the rear bracket.
 6. The rocking arminsertion pin fixing mechanism of toy car as claimed in claim 1, whereintwo ends of outer face of each of the front and rear brackets arerespectively formed with two swelling sections, whereby the bottom ofthe receptacle has a certain thickness.
 7. The rocking arm insertion pinfixing mechanism of toy car as claimed in claim 2, wherein the stopsection is formed on a middle section of the receptacle for stopping amaximum diameter section of the movable seat from detaching out of thereceptacle.